Objectives/hypothesis: Laryngeal chondrosarcomas are rare malignancies with a spectrum of presentations due to varying size, local extension, and biological behavior. Moreover, these neoplasms have differing effects on respiration, phonation, and deglutition. Consequently, it is valuable to assess endoscopic and transcervical treatment strategies.
Study design: Retrospective case series.
Methods: A retrospective review was done from 2001 to 2020; 25 patients were identified with laryngeal chondrosarcomas. Their tumor pathology and treatment were analyzed.
Results: All 25 chondrosarcomas were in the posterior cricoid and arose in proximity to at least one cricoarytenoid joint: 23 of 25 grade I-II (low-mid), one of 25 grade II-III (mid-high), and one of 25 grade III (high). Some tumor was left in 23 of 25 to preserve cricoarytenoid-joint function. There were no known disease-specific deaths (~8-year median follow-up). Final surgical treatment in 24 of 25 was: 13 of 25 transcervical partial laryngectomy, 7 of 25 transoral-endoscopic removal, 4 of 25 total laryngectomy, and 1 of 25 observation.
Conclusions: In this series, unresected intercurrent disease with laryngeal chondrosarcomas was not life-threatening. Therefore, disease was typically left in the posterior cricoid region to preserve mobility of at least one cricoarytenoid joint. This philosophy employed an ultra-function-sparing conservation approach that preserved and/or restored optimal voice, airway patency and swallowing.
Level of evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 132:169-176, 2022.
Keywords: Sarcoma; chondrosarcoma; laryngeal cancer; laryngeal tumor; larynx neoplasm; partial laryngectomy.
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